Christmas Calling
In the early 1980’s during my years at Northwestern College I lived in Colenbrander Hall. Dan and Dave were identical twin brothers who lived on my wing. It took me…
Of Lemon Pledge And Little Things
During my studies at Phoenix Seminary I was a full-time graduate student, worked full-time on staff at a church and had a couple part-time jobs. It was a gloriously exhausting…
Dumpster Roses
It’s not what I expect to find when I take out the trash. Laying on the ground at the foot of the dumpster is a clear glass vase filled with…
Sleight Of Hand
Years ago I had the privilege of enjoying an 8-day Caribbean cruise to Martinique, Barbados, St. John’s, Antigua, St. Martin and St. Maarten, San Juan and the Virgin Islands. God’s creation…
Pressure
Under pressure? Feeling squeezed? Me, too. Do you like it? Me, neither. Pressure. Squeezed. Pressed. In the vice. However you describe it, I hate it. So how about we…
Playing For Keeps
You’ve probably heard about it in the news this past week. Pat Robertson, ordained Baptist minister and former Republican presidential candidate was asked a question on his “700 Club” TV…
Terms And Conditions
During a Phoenix Seminary class in 1994, Dr. Norm Wakefield gave us a bookmark. I’ve had it in my Bible every day since. One side reads: “The terms and conditions…
Signature
In 1993 I was living in LeMars, Iowa, population 9,000 and the home of Wells Blue Bunny Ice Cream. It was the biggest town I’d ever lived in. It had an…
Coin Pushers
You’ve seen them in video arcades and every parent’s least favorite kid place, Chuck E. Cheese. Known in the business as “coin pushers”, they are the games which you drop…
The License Plate Game
In the summer of 1995 I was in Iowa visiting my parents. We were enjoying a day at Lake Okoboji and had stopped at a local cafe for lunch. The…